Betsy made a lovely dish of mussels and white beans over pasta, cooking and dinner wine was the 2013 Los Navales Verdejo (Rueda). I didn’t love this - nice citrus, funky herby note, but seemed somewhat short on finish. But revisited on day 3 it was holding well, clean, with just a hint of nuts, and a good finish for level. I said C+/B- - when I wrote night one, I’ll say B- now.
With roast chicken, teeny brussels sprouts, acorn squash mash, and salad, the 2013 Clos de Roilette (Coudert)Fleurie. When first opened I got this funny plant note I often get from Loire Gamay, and refer to as geranium. I don’t love that, but it was over a nice body of raspberry and cherry fruit and mocha, and well-balanced structure of good acids, light but firm tannins, and a good finish. The geranium fades, and I really like by end of night and on day 2. B+
With flounder, brown rice with marinated shiso, & roasted broccoli & cauliflower, the 2011 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey “La Chateniere” Saint-Aubin 1er Cru. Young, big, good acids, pear and hazelnut, there is a lot of wood here, but I think it will integrate. B+/B
Long Sunday where Betsy had a concert and I had an all day meeting, but she put together a
pot roast in a slow cooker before she left, I made a salad when I got home, and opened the 1989 Fonsalette “Cuvee Reserve” Cotes du Rhone when she said she was approaching. Good match with pot roast on a cool fall night, warm and full, mature, black fruits, smoke. B/B+
Tonight I made urad dal with turnip greens, broccoli curry, and an arugula salad, we opened the
2013 Lapierre Morgon. Red fruits (cherry and cranberry), herbs, lots of mineral crunchiness. Vibrant acids, light tannins, good length. Some spice and game notes with time. B++
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.